Cement industry expands lobbying focus on emission rules

The Cement Association of Canada hired an additional lobbyist during the budget period to help stay on top of greenhouse gas emission rules, said association president Michael McSweeney.

Steve Moran of Pivot Strategic Consulting, who is registered to work on carbon pricing regulations and lower-emissions construction materials, is the latest hire by an industry trying not to be blind-sided by the Liberals’ emissions clampdown. The cement industry is a high emitter with few easy alternatives when it comes to making reductions.

The association is taking a wait-and-see approach at the federal level right now as the details of the pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change roll out, said McSweeney. Most of the action in determining how much each industry can emit is happening at the provincial and territorial level, he said.

The April 10 to 14 period saw a major bump in the number of lobbyists’ communications reports filed with the federal registry, precisely because of the pre-budget frenzy for insider info.

Lobbyists and industry reps filed 1,065 communications reports — all covering the period between March 1 and 21 — with the lobbying registry last week. Another 759 reports registered last week are from the March 22 to April 13 period.

The canola business also was busy expanding its reach within the federal government last week. The Canola Growers Association registered its ninth lobbyist — Allison St. Jean of Hill and Knowlton. She’s been hired to focus on renewable fuels.

The Canola Council also signed on St. Jean.

DJI, a drone and imaging solutions company headquartered in the Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen, hired three new lobbyists last week. Transport Minister Marc Garneau announced additional rules for recreational drones recently.

All of DJI’s consultants — Marc Desmarais, Dan Mader and Fernando Meloare — are with National Public Relations.

Last week was big for the marijuana industry as the federal government unveiled its long-awaited legislation on cannabis legalization. Privateer Holdings, a Seattle-based equity investment company focused on the legal pot business, hired Joanna Carey to lobby Ottawa on medical cannabis.

The companies or associations with the most communications reports registered between April 10 and 14 were Barrick Gold with 45 and Engineers Canada with 42. Engineers Canada interim CEO Stephanie Price was the in-house consultant for all of her organization’s registrations.

Benjaming Bergen, executive director of the Council of Canadian Innovators, registered 41 communications reports. Rounding out the top three in-house lobbyists, James Irving — co-CEO of New Brunswick’s J.D. Irving Ltd. — registered 42 reports.

The top two paid consultants were Laura D’Angelo of the Wazuku Group and Joana Carey of Crestview Strategies.

David McFarlane, director of policy for Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains, was the most lobbied public office holder with 19 communications registered last week.

The most popular government lobbying target was the House of Commons, with 460 reports.

Finally, among the most popular topics that lobbyists discussed with public office holders, health was the top subject with 173 communications reports. Transportation was included in 139 reports and energy came up in 134.